I know we need to have backup supplies available always. What do you have with you when you are away from home? I have one bottle of Humolog to use for the month (at this point…getting things started.) Should I pull it out of the fridge and tote it along when I leave the house? I have left over Lantus cartridges from pre-Pod days. Can I carry them instead? Would Lantus be a fast enough fix should my Pod fail?
At least I carry a purse…you guys must love cargo pants!
When I leave the house to go grocery shopping (for example) I carry my blood glucose meter, the lancet device, test strips, and glucose tablets. Since I am not usually gone more than several hours I don’t carry my insulin. However if I was employed and gone away from home all day I would carry the insulin plus an extra pod or even two, just to be safe.
Don’t know about the Lantus since it is a long lasting insulin compared to Humalog which acts a whole lot more quickly. It is a good question. It will be interesting to see what others have to say. I think I would be tempted to have the Humalog pen along with me if I were gone all day, but that is just my opinion.
Mayumi
I always carry:
2 extra pods
alcohol wipes
vial humalog
Freestyle glucometer pouch(strips, lancets glucometer
2 extra sets baterry
I carry all this in my briefcase with some snacks ect.
I carry this:
http://www.thekitbagcompany.com/
It looks like a book cover and not a purse. I hate cargo pants. So when we go out to eat, it looks like I have a book with me. It’s big enough to hold test strips, meter, glucotabs, lancets, batteries, finger sticker, … I can even fit a pair of reading glasses in there.
And if I did want to get in touch with my feminine side, there is a strap on the inside that will unsnap and then it looks more like a purse.
Oh yeah,
You get a discount for being a member of Tudiabetes.
This link is on the Home page:
http://tudiabetes.com/notes/Discounts
It depends on how far away from home we are going to be as to what I pack. If we are going out for a few hours but are going to be an hour drive from home, I don’t pack anything but the PDM, test strips, and lancing device. If we are going to be away from home all day or overnight and it is a long drive back home, I pack 2 extra pods, a vial of Novolog/Humalog, and the test strips with lancing device. I have back up Lantus at home so that if we can’t use a pod at all, then we would use the Lantus. Since Lantus is a 24 hour insulin, you will only need to use it if you are not going to put on another pod.
Thanks, everyone. It seems that you must have extra insulin with you…carry the humolog and hope it doesn’t go bad going in and out of the fridge. I still wonder about the Lantus…I don’t think it works very quickly and once in the system stays for a while so I’d have to really watch the basal factor when I reattach to the pod. I know we all dream about this being easier…
Running errands or just away for a few hours
1 spare pod—always in a baggy in my purse
PDM inside the larger zippered case (OmniPod logo) with several alcohol wipes, lancet, Humalog vial
Glucose tabs
Glucagon kit----believe it or not
Nail Polish remover towelettes in case I need to change my pod
Extra batteries
Travel
Note from endo stating diabetic needs–meds and supplies
All of the above plus…
2 extra pods more than estimated use
1 extra vial of insulin—packed in my Medicool Pen Plus Case (contains a frozen gel pack to keep un-opened insulin
Since I used the Memoir Insulin delivery device—looks like a high end fountain pen, I still have 5 months of those insulin cartridges; and I carry it as a back up just in case I need to give myself an actual injection of Humalog.
Lantus was your background/basal insulin.that’s all it could be…wouldn’t help for a meal time bolus. My endo prescribed Humulin N to be used in case of pump failure ( I guess I’d use it if I don’t have enough EXTRA pods). It’s both a short-acting and an intermediate acting insulin given prior to meals. I have an appointment next Wednesday and I need to ask about basal insulin after dinner and throughout the evening when using the Humulin N since I no longer have any Levemir.
The large kit bag? I was just getting ready to buy one of these… Is it large enough to carry an extra pod? I found this site a while back; and thought that it would be great to carry EVERYTHING all in one case.
I carry my PDM, apidra vial, test strips, lancet device,alcohol wipes and a regular syring always. I have extra pods left at work and in my car just in case…
I keep my opened insulin vials with me at all times, I was told if it’s kept out of extreme temperatures and is used within 28 days it should be fine. At least with apidra, i’m not sure about other types of insulin.
Janice wrote:
The large kit bag? I was just getting ready to buy one of these… Is it large enough to carry an extra pod? I found this site a while back; and thought that it would be great to carry EVERYTHING all in one case.
Yes you can get on extra pod in there. There is one large velcro enclosed section that is perfect for the PDM and I’m sure you could close the whole kit with an extra pod loose in there. I’ll try to take a picture and post it when I get home.
The note from the endo would be a good thing to have on file. Saturday I thought I was going to have to make an emergency flight to Austin TX. My sister had emergency surgery there. And I did not have a letter with me.
I was going to try it without the letter,prescriptions, and all the other things suggested for flights.
But it turned out that I did not have to go Saturday but I may later this week to bring her home.
Thanks…this looks like the perfect thing’ and even though I’m a woman and I carry large bags/purses, it’ll be nice to grab something that has EVERYTHING all in one neat organized place…even when I’m home. I like the fact that it has a place to put glucose tabs…just in case. Neat organizer!! It appears to be very well made; and the tan leather one matches my purse—it’s a woman thing
Look forward to the picture. Hopefully all goes well with your sister.
Best of luck to your sister.
I can see where the scrips might be needed unexpectedly.
Thanks
As with others -
not far from home - PDM, strips, lancing device sugar tabs, sugar gel
otherwise I pack the DiaPack which has -
lancets
2 or 3 pods
novolog
alcohol pads
and other sundries
I have always carried the Novolog wherever I go and have definitely done so for more than 28 days and have never ever had an issue. As far as Lantus - that’s tucked away for emergencies like complete PDM failure, which, knock wood, we have never had to use.
Ordered the Tan Luxury Classic Kitbag…so, do I(they) owe you a commission??? Thanks for the reminder
You would only use Lantus if you were going to be without a pod for at least 12 hours, as someone else said it is super long acting and for basal. I carry my Apidra in my purse and never refrigerate it even before opening and have never had a problem. Your endo should be able to tell you how to take a pump vacation. With no long acting I inject 2 hours worth of basal every 2 hours and bolus for my carbs. Hope you get it all worked out.
I have travelled extensively with my old pump and just made sure I had prescription labels on the boxes of insulin and have never had a problem. I do think it is a good idea to get the letter though.
Good Luck